Class Descriptions | Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts

Hickory Ballet & Performing Arts

2025-2026 Class Descriptions

Early Age :

Dance with Me, ages 18 mos-2yrs
Help develop gross motor skills, work on musicality and rhythm, and instill a love of dancing in this class for our littlest students. Any parent or caregiver will join to help guide students in exploring dance with child friendly music, engaging exercises, and fun props.

Pre-Ballet, ages 3-4
Students in pre-ballet will be introduced to basic ballet technique while learning to follow directions and work on gross motor skills. The concentration in this level is posture development, musicality and rhythm, coordination, and creative expression through movement.

Level 1 : Ages 5-6

Acro 1
This class will focus on the foundations of Acro, a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements.. Students will do stretch and strength exercises, full body conditioning, and learn basic acro including forward rolls, back bends, and walkovers. This class is done in the studio on the dance floor with the occasional use of thin mats.

Ballet 1
Students in Ballet 1 will be developing basic ballet technique working from the five positions. They will concentrate on posture with the use of the core muscles, plie and tendu variations, and center work that evolves gross motor skills, in addition to creative expression and musicality.

Musical Theatre 1/Jazz 1, Recommended: Ballet 1
Working and playing with the three main components of Musical Theatre: Singing, Dancing and Acting, MT1 teaches articulation, proper vocal production, and basic dance steps for ages 5-6. Students will sing and dance simultaneously, learn theatre vocabulary, play improv games and have a lot of fun!

Progressing Ballet Technique 1/2
PBT is a fun and revolutionary training program that combines physiological expertise with enhanced ballet practices to help students increase muscle memory, improve flexibility, and strengthen technique. This level will work on the sub junior syllabus that includes work on posture, balance, and core control.

Tap 1, Pre-Req: Students must be able to skip.
Through dancing and games students will learn the basics of Broadway tap, foot articulation, tempo, rhythm and downbeat.

Level 2 : Ages 7-8

Acro 2, Placement Class Required: Levels are based on the Acrobatic Arts curriculum and are skilled-based.
This class will focus on the foundations of Acro, a style of dance that combines classical dance technique with precision acrobatic elements.. Students will do stretch and strength exercises, full body conditioning, and learn basic acro including forward rolls, back bends, and walkovers. This class is done in the studio on the dance floor with the occasional use of thin mats.

Ballet 2

Students in Ballet 2 will be working on basic ballet technique through both barre and center work. Concentration in this class is the awareness of turn out, emphasis on straight lines, vocabulary development, rhythm and tempo.

Musical Theatre 2/Jazz 2, Recommended: Ballet 2, Tap 2
This fun and energetic class will be exploring the three main components of Musical Theatre: Singing, Dancing and Acting. MT2 teaches articulation, proper vocal production, and basic/intermediate dance steps for ages 7-8. Students will sing and dance simultaneously, learn theatre vocabulary, play improv games, sing in rounds, learn basic harmony, how to read a script and write blocking notes.

Tap 2, Pre-Req: Students must be able to skip.
Through dancing and games students will learn the basics of Broadway tap, foot articulation, tempo, rhythm and downbeat.

Level 3 : Age 9+

Acro 3, Placement Class Required: Levels are based on the Acrobatic Arts curriculum and are skilled-based.
This class will build on the foundations of Acro, a combination of elements of gymnastics and dance to paint a fuller picture. Students will do stretch and strength exercises, full body conditioning, and work toward acro skills of backhand springs, handstands, front handsprings, walkovers.

Ballet 3A and 3B Requirement: minimum 2x/week, Recommended: PBT/Pre-Pointe
Students in Ballet 3A and 3B will be working on ballet technique at the barre and center. In this class, students are expanding their vocabulary and learning many new exercises. The emphasis is on establishing turn out, articulating the feet, and strengthening their ability.

Ballet 3C, ages 10+ Placement Class Required, Requirement: minimum 2x/week, PBT/Pre-Pointe
Students in Ballet 3C will enhance their technique through both barre and center work. Similar to Ballet 3A and 3B, students are rapidly expanding their ballet vocabulary. The emphasis is developing posture and whole body coordination, articulating the feet and strengthening their ability. Students in Ballet 3C will also take PBT/pre-pointe class.

Jazz 3
This class will continue to increase in difficulty of skills and vocabulary of classical jazz dance. Through warm up, center work, across the floor, and longer combinations, the focus on proper technique, musicality, and performance continues. Age appropriate goals for turns, leaps, stretch and strength are articulated for students.

Lyrical 3
Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet and jazz techniques. Lyrical uses connecting and flowing movements to interpret music and express emotions. This class combines the power of jazz technique with the fluidity of ballet and its terminology

Musical Theatre 3A and 3B Requirement: Jazz 3 or Freshman Jazz, Ballet 3 or Freshman Ballet (1x per week) Recommended: Tap 3 or Freshman Tap
One of our most popular classes at HBPA, this class dives into singing, dancing and acting! With increasingly challenging music, choreography and character work, the students continue to develop technique and artistry, and learn to perform authentically.

Pre-Pointe Class
Training on pointe is a serious step in ballet training. Pre-pointe class focuses on foot-strength building and alignment that will develop pointe readiness. Students will learn conditioning exercises for the legs and feet and practice pointe barre technique. Students are required to take two ballet technique classes a week at this level. Click here for a description of our studio’s guidelines for pointe work.

Progressing Ballet Technique 3A, 3B
PBT is a fun and revolutionary training program that combines physiological expertise with enhanced ballet practices to help students increase muscle memory, improve flexibility, and strengthen technique.

Progressing Ballet Technique 3C
PBT 3C is a continuation of PBT 3A/3B, providing challenging training to further strengthen technique, improve flexibility, and increase muscle memory.

Tap 3
Through warm up, center work, and across the floor, students will be working on increasing speed and difficulty of Broadway style combinations. An introduction to rhythmic tap and hoofing will be explored in preparation for Tap 4.

Level 4 : Ages 10+

Ballet 4, Placement Class Required, Requirement: minimum 3x/week, Pointe, PBT
Students in Ballet 4 will be working on intermediate ballet technique at the barre and centre. Concentration in this class is given to improving ballet posture, body positions, and movement quality. Female students in Ballet 4 will also take pointe class. Students in this level wishing to perform will audition for roles.

Jazz 4
This class will continue to increase in difficulty of skills and vocabulary of classical jazz dance. Through warm up, center work, across the floor, and longer combinations, the focus on proper technique, musicality, and performance continues. Age appropriate goals for turns, leaps, stretch and strength are articulated for students.

Lyrical 4
Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet and jazz techniques. Lyrical uses connecting and flowing movements to interpret music and express emotions. This class combines the power of jazz technique with the fluidity of ballet and its terminology

Musical Theatre 4 Acting, Requirement: MT 4 Music, Jazz 4, Freshman or Sophomore Jazz, Ballet 4, Freshman or Sophomore Ballet, one additional hour Recommended: Acro and Tap
Students in MT 4 Acting will learn acting techniques such as Stanislavsky, Hagen, and Meisner. They will work on scenes and monologues, begin accent work, and enjoy an introduction to Shakespeare.

Musical Theatre 4 Music, Requirement: MT 4 Acting, Jazz 4, Freshman or Sophomore Jazz, Ballet 4, Freshman or Sophomore Ballet, one additional hour Recommended: Acro and Tap
Students in MT 4 will be taught proper vocal technique in this hour-long group voice lesson. They will learn beginner music theory to support music reading skills.

Pointe 4
Students will participate in a weekly pointe class in order to improve their pointe technique. These classes will continue to work on foot, leg, and core strength through both barre and center exercises. Concentration will be on alignment and correct distribution of weight over the shoe, ability to maintain balance, and increased security and control. Advanced pointe students will also learn and analyze classical variations from famous ballet repertoire.

Progressing Ballet Technique 4
PBT 4 is a continuation of PBT 3A/3B, providing challenging training to further strengthen technique, improve flexibility, and increase muscle memory.

Tap 4
Intermediate tap technique for older students, this class will build on basic technical skills, with increasing difficulty in footwork, rhythm, turning steps and speed. This class is not Broadway tap, but a rhythmic/ musician’s approach, as seen in dance companies.

Level 5/6 : Ages 12+

Ballet 5, Placement Class Required, Requirement: minimum 4x/week, Pointe, PBT, one hour additional genre
Students in Ballet 5 will be working on intermediate ballet technique to improve their strength and precision. Students will advance to difficult skills to improve their alignment, technique, and movement quality. Female students in Ballet 5 will take pointe class twice a week. Students in this level wishing to perform will audition for roles.

Ballet 6, Placement Class Required, Requirement: minimum 4x/week, Pointe, PBT, two hours additional genre
Students in Ballet 6 will be working on advanced ballet technique in order to improve their ability and skills in the art. Concentration will be placed on alignment, epaulement, and artistry. Female students in Ballet 6 will take pointe class twice a week. Students in this level wishing to perform will audition for roles.

Contemporary, Pre-Req: Ballet 4& up
Contemporary dance encourages dancers to be versatile in their expressions and to be able to portray a wide array of movement styles and emotions. It focuses on spatial and body awareness, use of body weight, floor work, technique, efficiency of muscle usage, musicality and safe body alignment.

Jazz 5, Placement Class Required. Requirement: Students must be enrolled in 2 or more ballet classes per week.
This class will explore the choreography of current and past Broadway productions. Focusing on proper technique and honing specific styles of Broadway legends such as Robbins, Fosse, and Bennett, dancers will expand their skill set and push past their comfort zones.

Musical Theatre 5 Acting, Requirement: MT 4 Music, Jazz 4, Freshman or Sophomore Jazz, Ballet 4, Freshman or Sophomore Ballet, one additional hour, Turns & Leaps. Recommended: Acro and Tap
Students in MT 4 Acting will learn acting techniques such as Stanislavsky, Hagen, and Meisner. They will work on scenes and monologues, begin accent work, and enjoy an introduction to Shakespeare.

Musical Theatre 5 Music, Requirement: MT 4 Acting, Jazz 4, Freshman or Sophomore Jazz, Ballet 4, Freshman or Sophomore Ballet, one additional hour, Turns & Leaps. Recommended: Acro and Tap
Students in MT 4 will be taught proper vocal technique in this hour-long group voice lesson. They will learn beginner music theory to support music reading skills.

Pointe 5/6
Students will participate in a weekly pointe class in order to improve their pointe technique. These classes will continue to work on foot, leg, and core strength through both barre and center exercises. Concentration will be on alignment and correct distribution of weight over the shoe, ability to maintain balance, and increased security and control. Advanced pointe students will also learn and analyze classical variations from famous ballet repertoire.

Turns and Leaps, Pre-Req: Students must be enrolled 2 or more ballet classes per week, Jazz 4+.
Students will work on turn and jump progressions in a variety of styles. Designed to challenge students with a strong technical foundation and concentrate on building proficiency in turn sequences and complex leaps.

Freshmen & Sophomore Levels : Ages 9+

Our Freshmen/Sophomore classes are for beginning and intermediate students that are new to dance or training at a recreational level. There are no prerequisites for these classes and students perform by invitation only.

Freshman Ballet
Students in Freshman Ballet are older beginners to ballet. They will be working on beginning ballet technique through barre and center work. Concentration in this class is establishing basic feet and arm positions, posture, strength, and movement quality.

Sophomore Ballet
Students in Sophomore Ballet are older beginning to intermediate students in ballet, who have not yet built the strength necessary for pointe. They will be working on ballet technique through barre and center work. Concentration in this class is establishing basic feet and arm positions, posture, strength, and movement.

Freshman/Sophomore Jazz
This class will focus on the basics of classical jazz dance. Warm up, center work and short combinations will focus on proper alignment, stretch/strength and musicality. This class is excellent for singers and actors that need a stronger handle on dance skills. The goal of this class is two fold: First, to make room for an older beginner to explore their interest in dance and second, to get older beginners up to speed, so they can transition into leveled classes asap.

Freshmen/Sophomore Lyrical
Lyrical dance is a fusion of ballet and jazz techniques. Lyrical uses connecting and flowing movements to interpret music and express emotions. This class combines the power of jazz technique with the fluidity of ballet and its terminology.

Freshmen/Sophomore Musical Theatre
This class is designed for the older beginner. Perfect for the student that wants to step out of their comfort zone in a fun environment, fundamental dance, vocal, and acting skills will be taught in addition to basic audition skills and theatre vocabulary.

Freshman Tap
Students will learn the basics of Broadway tap, foot articulation, tempo, rhythm and downbeat. Perfect for older beginners who want to try a new style.

Adult Program : Ages 17+

Adults are also welcome to take Freshman/Sophomore level classes or place into a leveled class.

Adult Tap
This class is for adults who want to explore and learn tap dance. It is a fun way to exercise, learn a new skill, and meet friends!

Adult Ballet
Adult ballet offers adults the opportunity to learn beginning ballet technique through barre and center work. Use the graceful moves of ballet to tone muscle and improve posture.

Adult Ballroom
This shortened session will be fun for beginning and intermediate dancers while we explore several Latin styles such as swing, salsa, cha cha, rumba, waltz, merengue and more! The class will focus on basic steps with a partner, musicality and rhythm, and fun! Partner recommended not required.

Ballet/Musical Theatre Rehearsal : Various levels as invited

Rehearsal blocks are for specific productions, and don’t count toward tuition hours. Rehearsals are a mandatory part of involvement in productions. Specific rehearsal call sheets are found in the weekly email. Minimal conflicts allowed.